Featured Today

It is raining free add-ons across price segments making the market extremely attractive to buyers. But what does it really mean to you. Magicbricks attempts to demistify.

Developers are offering ready modular kitchens, with all the wood work done; Two-apartments-shared private lounge areas; restricted swimming areas (as in allotted to only row houses, in the luxury segment), special ‘energising’ pools, landscaped terrace garden in each villament, teen zone and more. These are just some of the add-ons that developers are offering to buyers today. While some of the offerings are priced nominally, like the modular kitchen, several amenities mentioned above are actually priced `free’.

The free add-on race is not limited to just the luxury housing segment alone. Several mid-segment builders are also making interesting offers. The list includes no extra car park charges, no extra electricity charges over and above the set price, no club house charges, no sports zone charges to name a few.

What do these offers really mean, and is the developer telling the truth?

“It is by and large the truth; the developers are not making false promises. But what is happening is that the competition in Bangalore has increased,’’ says Avik Prabhu, consultant and loan adviser. “With the announcement of several new projects across the city in addition to the existing ones nearing completion, each developer is competing with his as well as his competitors’ projects. Thus, the aim to attract the buyer with `better deals’ as compared to the others is heating up,” he adds.

In fact, from the developer’s side, it is really a case of projecting ‘how my project is better than other projects’.

This has made it extremely essential for the buyer to understand what the developer means vis-à-vis what it might imply in his/her imagination.

Also, it is important to know what your family requirements really are and choose what you really need.

“Features like swimming pools, children’s play area, mini theatre, club house, roof top entertainment area, senior citizens’ walk area, jogging tracks are now being offered by several mid-segment developers, with projects starting at above Rs 55 lakh. At the same time, there are developers with higher-priced projects that focus more on the quality of construction, people density and the handover date, with few of the above mentioned amenities. It is up to the buyer to check out the varied offerings and choose the best fit as per his or her requirement,” says Harishbhai Patel, proprietor, Avran Real Estate Agent, who has tied up with several developers in marketing their projects.

Given below are a few pointers to help the consumer know what he should really look out for and to understand the developer lingo:

“Construction costs have gone up significantly, so also is the price of wood. If you are being offered something ‘free’ you need to check its quality and at times exactly what the developer really means,” says Prabhu.

For instance, special energising swimming pool can mean the floor of the pool has pressure spot tiles like in parks, or extra ribbed anti-skid flooring, and not a Jacuzzi-style pressured flow of water.

Similarly, landscaped private terrace can mean a patch of artificial grass bordered with flower pots, with partial grass and wooden flooring with miniature palms in large pots in the background.

A ready modular kitchen or an Italian kitchen with the apartment, does not mean the entire kitchen will be done up as per your choice. It often means basics, such as having two sets of slide baskets with two wooden shelves and having a set of four small cupboards on top for keeping the spice bottles. What it does not entail is the super smooth-slide full-length double storage space measuring a cool 9 ft by 17 ft.

Knowing the difference between particle wood, ply, MDF, teak and rubber wood and their combinations in terms of where each of these can be used can save a lot of money and stress in the long run.

“Some of the combinations are better water resistant, some are dampness resistant and some are best used only in dry areas. It is far better to spend a little more intelligently and get what you really need instead of getting seduced by the cost-effective price option that comes with the buy,” says Arora.

Know yourself and look for projects that satisfy your set of required amenities, rather than be seduced by the glossy colourful offerings being announced.

“If you are the kind that is more comfortable taking long walks and doing yoga, a good quality construction with a green view in a silent area should be enough for you. At the most you could opt for a roof top entertainment area and proximity to a good park,” says Patel. “Ones you decide on this, it is far better to concentrate on the size of the apartment and its location, as a jogging track, swimming pool, clubhouse et all are a waste, as you would rarely use them.”

Kanchana Dwarakanath, Magicbricks.com Bureau

Kanchana Dwarakanath is an integrated communications professional with diverse experience in journalism & Marketing Communications. Her current focus areas include real estate, infrastructure, urban management and the skill development market.